Method and apparatus for control of aquatic invasive species using hydroxide stabilization

Abstract

An airlift, water mixing system that passes biocides, algaecides and gas through a ship's ballast water tanks and its pipping to control water PH. Vertically moving diffusion grids provide air sparging in treated ballast water that accommodates variances in ballast water levels without changes in pressure or power used by an air compressor connected to a diffusion grid.

1 . A ballast water treatment system for eradicating invasive species in ballast tanks of a ship comprising:
 a two source gas supply line comprising an engine connected to a fan with a valve intervening between said fan and said engine, the fan permits gas to flow to a burner that reheats the gas that enters into a catalytic converter, the gas passing through the catalytic converter flows into an exhaust purification component including a first and second gas chamber containing a water sprayer and demister with a centrifugal separator connected to each said chamber to remove solid contaminants from each said chamber, a valve capable of stopping CO 2  from flowing downstream to a compressor that blows air through a gas inlet into and through a diffuser grid placed in each ship ballast water tanks;   the grid comprising at least four adjacent hollow sidewalls with at least one rib connecting two of said sidewalls, each said rib has at least one aperture capable of releasing said gas into a liquid placed in said tank, and a guide rail passing through the grid to allow movement of the grid;   a water treatment piping system that interconnects said ballast tanks comprising   each said ballast tank connected by valve to a main pipe line that loads water external o said ship to said tank, and to secondary pipe for stripping or top from a said tank, wherein said secondary pipe line connected to at least a plurality of said tanks on a port side of said ship is the same;   and a pump connected to said main pipe causing water to flow within a closed loop from at least one said tank through said main pipe line.   
     
     
         2 . A diffusion grid system for eradicating invasive species in ballast water contained within a ship ballast tank, comprised of:
 at least four adjacent hollow sidewalls with at least one rib connecting two of said sidewalls, each said rib has at least one aperture capable of releasing said gas into a liquid placed in said tank, and a guide rail passing through the grid to allow movement of the grid.   
     
     
         3 . A water treatment piping system that interconnects said ballast tanks comprising:
 A plurality of ballast water tanks in a ship connected by valve to a main pipe line that loads water external to said ship to each said tank, and to secondary pipe line for stripping or top off of each said ballast tank, wherein said secondary pipe line connected to at least a plurality of said tanks on a port side of said ship is the same;   and a pump connected to said main pipe causing water to flow within a closed loop from at least one said tank through said main pipe line.